Relegation worries worsen for Plympton

PLYMPTON’S Premier Division relegation worries worsened when they were 26-run losers against Paignton in the basement clash at Harewood Park

- CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

PREMIER DIVISION

Skipper Alex Carr got lucky at the toss – winning it on a damp day is always helpful – and it seemed part of the hard work was done as Paignton were bowled out for 157.

Knocking-off 158 to win was a different matter though and Plympton were bowled out for 131 in reply. Losing four wickets for 20 runs midchase was the turning point.

Paignton were below Plympton going into round 11 of 18, but not any more. It is Plympton who are in the bottom two now, although they only trail Paignton by five points.

Veteran batter Neil Hancock top scored for Paignton with 62 and was involved in stands at that added 86 to the total. Kelly Smuts, Paignton’s mid-season replacement for departed pro Divvy Saxena, was in and out 18.

In the context of what was always likely to be a low-scoring game, the lower-order runs added by Rory Medlock (15) and Tom Blundell (10) after Hancock was seventh out on 121 proved decisive.

Spin was king for Plympton with four wickets for Tino Mutombodzi (4-15) and three for Surya Suresh (3-33).

Paignton paceman Charlie Ward knocked over Plympton pair Harry Kandampully and Elliot Hamilton in the pace of three balls to leave the home side a wobbly 11 for two.

Ben Privett (33) and Justin Wubbeling (36) repaired the early damage with a stand of 53 that ended when Privett departed.

Plympton’s problems started when Wubbeling was bowled by Smuts as the rest of middle-order followed in quick succession as 80 for four became 100 for eight.

Jonty Walliker (21) arrested the decline for a while, but when he was ninth out to Medlock the end wasn’t far away.